Microcontroller-based hybrid vehicle system

• Main Authors: Manghinang, Reyno Rico T., Siahetiong, Steven N., Tan, Ryan Jason K.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Hybrid electric vehicles
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/7410
• Institution: De La Salle University

Transportation plays a very important role in our everyday life. Because of the high oil price our country is experiencing, some people tend to travel through other means like taking the train, etc. Hybrid vehicles are made to save the consumption of fuel through the use of two different power sources. A planetary gear system is used for the shafting of electric motor, gasoline engine and wheel. A microcontroller was used in implementing controls and monitoring system of the vehicle. The vehicle has three stages to consider: First stage: a heavy duty relay was used to turn on the DC motor Second stage, a magnetic clutch was used to engage the engine Third stage, magnetic clutch and the heavy duty relay was turned on simultaneously resulting to the adding up of the speed of gasoline engine and DC motor. PWM algorithm was used as the mode of speed control for the motor. Photo interrupters were used and were improvised, together with the microcontroller, to act like a tachometer that will be able to detect the actual RPM reading of the shaft of the engine and electric motor. Car batteries together with a voltage regulator were used for the power source of the hybrid vehicle components. Lastly, the status of the hybrid environment including the rpm (revolutions per minute) reading of engine and motor, and kph (kilometer per hour) reading are displayed on a LCD. The group compared the performance of a normal engine vehicle and the hybrid vehicle. It was able to save approximately 40% of the gasoline consumption. The total cost saved by the hybrid vehicle is reduced when the electric power used by the DC motor is considered in the computations. The savings reduced to around 2% because the cost of charging the car batteries is costly. The group recommended the self-charging of the batteries to improve the cost savings.